Letters

Published:08:00Saturday 21 March 2015

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Columnist

Comments from leader

It was very interesting reading this week’s columnist, North Kesteven District Council leader Coun Marion Brighton, where she said it was heartening that 79 per cent of those residents felt the council performed well with the money it has available and that 58 per cent preferred the 1.51 per cent proposed increase in order to achieve a balanced budget.

Out of almost 110,000 residents that live in the North Kesteven District Council area only 121 actually attended the three public events that NKDC went to great pains to invite residents and stakeholders to these consultation events.

No doubt the rest of us all thought what was the point of going when NKDC do just as they have proposed what to do when it comes to important decision making.

Alan Ward,

Sleaford.

Green deal

Apply now

for funding

More people can enjoy a warmer home for less through the release of £70m of Government funds which residents can bid for directly.

North KestevenDistrict Council’s SustainNK is urging NK residents to apply for the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF) which opened to new applications from midday, Monday, March 16.Based on the popularity of previous funding rounds, it is advisable to be in as quickly as possible for a share.

Grants of up to £5,600 are available to households in England and Wales to help with the cost of installing certain energy saving measures such as solid wall insulation, double glazing, boilers, cavity wall and floor insulation.

More than 25,000 households across the country have already received a voucher for The Green Deal Home Improvement Fund since its launch in June 2014.

This time the finances available have been increased for domestic energy customers to receive: up to £3,750 for installing solid wall insulation; and/or up to £1,250 for installing two measures from an approved list; up to £100 refunded for their Green Deal Assessment; and up to £500 more if applying within 12 months of buying a new home.

The money is available until all the funding is allocated.

To complete the two-stage application process, householders will need:

A Green Deal Advice Report (GDAR) or Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) that is less than two years old;

A quote from a GDHIF registered installer or provider for work specified on the GDAR or EPC and included on the list of GDHIF approved measures; and Proof of property ownership (for landlords/undertakings only). Householders are encouraged to get more than one quote, particularly when they are having expensive work done, to make sure they are getting the best deal available.

Call the Energy Saving Advice Service on 0300 123 1234 Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm, or Saturday, 10am to 2pm

Coun Richard Wright,

NKDC executive board member for energy matters

LIVES

Shop and help support LIVES

From March to June members of Lincolnshire Co-op will be helping to save lives just by doing their shopping.

To celebrate its 45th year, Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Services (LIVES) has been nominated as Lincolnshire Co-op’s Community Champion in outlets across the county.

From March to June, every time they use their dividend card in any Lincolnshire Co-op outlets where points are issued, a donation from the Community Champions pot will go towards LIVES or their equivalent local First Responder group.

The money will go towards training and buying vital medical equipment such as defibrillators and specialist kit for medics.

LIVES Medics and First Responders are all volunteers who give up their time to respond to emergencies in their communities. When people dial 999, not only will an ambulance be mobilised, the LIVES Medic or Responder on call in the area will also receive notification that help is needed.

First Responders are trained and equipped to provide care before an ambulance arrives for everything from cardiac arrest and breathing difficulties to collapsing and fits. LIVES Medics have advanced skills for dealing with serious trauma, associated with road traffic collisions and industrial/farm accidents.